ECO-FRIENDLY VS SUSTAINABLE HOUSING
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
The more involved I become with Eco-Friendly Homes & Sustainable Housing, the easier it has become to differentiate between the two. Home buyers being introduced to green subdivisions like Matthaeus Farms are asking the same questions I was at the beginning of the year…
“WHAT DOES ECO-FRIENDLY MEAN?”
A literal definition of Eco-Friendly reads “earth-friendly or not harmful to the environment.”
This term most commonly refers to products contributing to green living or practices helping conserve resources like water & energy. Eco-Friendly products also prevent contributions to air, water & land pollution.
For instance, an Eco-House is built with the purpose of reducing energy consumption & waste. Eco-Friendly properties reduce the building’s negative impact on human & environmental health through:
Improved Design, Construction, Siting, Operation & Maintenance
The materials used to build Eco-Friendly homes last much longer than other traditionally used resources. They tend to be lighter AND stronger to use.
“WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE HOUSING?”
“Sustainable housing uses energy & material more efficiently during both production & operation while polluting & damaging natural systems as little as possible.”
The world “Sustainable” is used to describe homes designed to reduce their overall environmental impact both before & after construction. Sustainable Housing meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. This is accomplished through:
The Efficient Use of Energy, Water, Land & Other Resources
Some of the most damaging polluters on the planet are buildings, consuming over half of all the energy used in developed countries & producing half of all the climate-changing greenhouse gases.
A successful Sustainable House has been built with the future occupants’ health, Greenhouse Gases, pollution, waste & environmental degradation in mind. Its construction is aimed at reducing environmental impact during construction while providing a healthier place to live with lower ongoing running costs.
SEEING GREEN: THE BENEFITS OF HEALTHIER HOMES
Matthaeus Farms homes are both Eco-Friendly & Sustainable. Along with the better materials used in their construction, home owners also receive Energy Efficiency Certification showing their complete long term utility cost savings.
Seeing green isn’t just about the financial benefits of owning an Eco-Friendly, Sustainable home. The materials used in the construction of these properties are much safer to live in as well. Our healthier homes aren’t built with traditionally used materials with a history of releasing toxins into the living spaces.
Making the switch to Eco-Friendly living is happening worldwide. In a matter of years, home builders will be upgrading their standards thanks to the ripple effect Governments around the world are having on their own environmental laws. This is great news, but for home buyers looking at properties TODAY, it’s better to be ahead of the curve this year than behind it five years from now.
Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Sincerely,
Realtor Bob Arnold
(414) 507-1089